By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

3B/RHP Thomas Aruta, Pleasant Valley HS, Class of 2015

Aruta is a 5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect that worked a scoreless inning at Misericordia University. He sat 75-76 while touching 77 mph out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Aruta faced four batters, allowing a single and retiring the others on fly ball outs.

LHP/1B Nate Baxter, Cocalico HS, Class of 2015

Baxter has a projectable 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame and throws from a 3/4 arm slot creating arm side run to his 74 mph fastball. Baxter displayed the ability to command the strike zone and a 1/7 breaking curveball at 63 mph. He gave up a hit and a run over two innings of work at Mansfield University.

RHP/OF John Bowman, Canton HS, Class of 2015

Bowman is very raw, but has a big upside. He sat 81-83, touching 84 mph in his three innings of work after quarterbacking his high school football team Friday night. He has not thrown consistently since early June, although he sat 85-87 at the PA Underclass Games in late July. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound righty worked three innings allowing three hits and a run. He struck out four and showcased a changeup that has potential at 72 mph out of an over the top throwing motion. He does not currently throw a curveball, but has an arm slot that could produce an effective 12/6 breaker.

RHP John Fisher, Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS, Class of 2015

Fisher is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound righty that commanded the strike zone sitting 83-84 while touching 85 mph. He works from a high 3/4 arm slot with repeatable mechanics. Fisher also flashed a tight spinning 11/5 curveball at 72 mph and a 70 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed. Fisher will need to continue to develop the changeup and use it more frequently to round out his arsenal of pitches.

LHP Zach Guth, Franklin HS, Class of 2015

Guth has had a breakout late summer, early fall sitting 84-86 and touching 87 a number of times. The lefty worked three innings, yielding a run on three hits without his best stuff at Mansfield University. He did find his groove in his final inning, striking out the side for a total of six K's in three innings. Guth was down a bit in velocity sitting 83-85 out of a high 3/4 arm slot, but did show command of his curveball and utilized his changeup effectively.

RHP/SS Collin Liberatore, Greensburg Central Catholic, Class of 2015

Liberatore worked three innings surrendering one run on two hits while striking out three. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound righty frustrated hitters with his plus changeup thrown at fastball arm speed swing and misses and weak ground balls. Liberatore sat 77-79 while touching 80 mph with his fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He also showed good command of his 70 mph 11/5 breaking curveball.

RHP/1B Eric Ligda, Avon Grove HS, Class of 2014

Ligda is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound uncommitted senior that continues to impress. The righty sat 82-83 out of a 3/4 arm slot with arm side run to his fastball. Ligda also commanded a 71 mph splitter and a 73 mph curveball for strikes. He worked three scoreless innings allowing just two hits, one of the infield variety.

3B/RHP Nick Lorenz, East Juniata HS, Class of 2014

Lorenz is an uncommitted senior with a big upside. The righty sat 81-82 out of a high 3/4 arm slot, touching 83 several times. He will need to develop his changeup, but commands a tight spinning 11/5 curveball at 74 mph. Lorenz worked two scoreless innings of one hit baseball at Misericordia University.

SS/RHP John Matthews, Punxsutawney HS, Class of 2016

Matthews sat 80-81 touching 82 mph with arm side run to his fastball out of a 3/4 arm slot. The right-hander also displayed an 11/5 breaking curveball at 72 mph and a drop down slider that he has just begun to throw. Matthews has good late life to his fastball and a clean arm action.

RHP/SS Braydon Nault, Westwood Collegiate HS (Canada), Class of 2014

Nault is a 6-foot-2, 135-pound righty with good rhythm to his delivery. He sat 71-73, topping at 74 mph out of a high 3/4 arm slot. While his velocity was not overpowering, he mixed speeds well and commanded the strike zone. Nault used a curveball (69 mph) and changeup (69 mph) mix to keep hitters off of his fastball. He has repeatable mechanics and could easily add significant velocity as his body matures.

RHP/1B T.J. Pagan, Penn Charter HS, Class of 2014

Pagan has a projectable 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame and has just recently switched arm angles to become a side arm pitcher. He showcased a fastball that sat 78-82 while touching 83 mph. Pagan's command wavered early, which could be attributed to the new arm angle and lack of consistent work in the fall, but he found his groove in his 3rd and final inning on the mound. Pagan's 69 mph slider had significant break and his fastball showed substantial arm side run. The uncommitted senior has the potential to develop added velocity and additional pitches out of the new arm angle moving forward.

RHP Gabe Rader, Williamsport HS, Class of 2014

Rader is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound righty that showed an 82 mph arm from the outfield and sat 83-84 on the mound out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He worked one scoreless inning with a walk, a double play ball and a strikeout. Rader flashed the makings of a dominant 71 mph 11/5 breaking curveball that showed late biting action. 

2B/RHP Devon Walker, DuBois HS, Class of 2014

Walker had a solid weekend showcasing his multifaceted abilities. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound uncommitted senior worked three scoreless innings at Mansfield University, retiring nine straight on four strikeouts and five ground balls. Walker utilizes a 3/4 arm slot to create arm side run to his fastball and commands an 11/5 breaking ball at 74 mph. He works quickly on the hill and keeps the ball down allowing his defense to work.

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